Editorial: Local police know brutality is no joke

A White House spokeswoman said Monday that President Donald Trump was just “making a joke” when he encouraged police officers to rough up suspects.

His comments weren't funny. They rightly provoked outrage from officers and others across the country including the Gainesville Police Department, which saw its social media statement on the remarks receive national attention.

Trump was speaking in New York on Friday when he told officers that they shouldn’t “be too nice” when arresting suspects. He then suggested that they shouldn’t worry about hitting the heads of suspects when putting them into squad cars.

GPD subsequently issued a statement that said Trump’s remarks “set modern policing back and erased a lot of the strides we have made to build trust in our community, but we hope that each of you will recognize the work we have done to earn your trust.”

GPD and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office have both earned trust with efforts in recent years to improve community relations and take a smarter approach to fighting crime. These efforts include programs to train officers to deescalate crisis situations, reduce disproportionate minority contacts, and divert individuals who are mentally ill and others who commit nonviolent offenses from the criminal justice system.

Certainly problems remain as illustrated by the shooting death last year of 16-year-old Robert Dentmond, who was carrying a realistic-looking toy gun when he was shot by local deputies and officers. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune's "Bias on the Bench" series showed that black residents continue to face harsher penalties for drug crimes than white college students here.

But long before the series GPD recognized the problem, using civil citations to curb arrests and conducting youth dialogues and other efforts to improve relations. GPD previously received national attention due to a viral video showing the so-called basketball cop, Officer Bobby White, shooting hoops with kids after responding to a noise complaint.

Now GPD and ASO are part of local efforts to expand the use of civil citations. Their members have also worked with The Sun-sponsored Gainesville For All initiative on other reforms to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in the criminal justice system.

These efforts gained urgency as the high-profile shootings of black men at the hands of law enforcement nationally have shown the need for change. The Obama administration instituted reforms that included turning away from mandatory minimum sentences and other drug war excesses in favor of a smarter approach to crime that reduces recidivism using fewer resources.

The Trump administration is trying to reverse that progress. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered a review of agreements with police departments aimed at curbing abuses, and strengthened the government’s power to seize cash and property from suspects without first bringing criminal charges. Trump endorsed the distribution of military equipment to police departments in last week's comments.

GPD’s statement shows the department is committed to a better approach. Trump might think police brutality is a joke, but officers who earn the community's trust are much more effective at reducing crime.